Devan Dubnyk opened his speech for winning the Masterton Trophy at the NHL Awards Show by saying, "Wow, what a year."
What a night, too.
He finished third for the Vezina and it was revealed he just missed being a finalist for the Hart (MVP). He finished fourth. He also became the first player in Wild history to be named a Second Team All-Star. Ryan Suter was previously a First Team All-Star in 2013 and Jonas Brodin made the All-Rookie team in 2013.
Dubnyk on getting up on stage: "I was nervous. It's a whole different ballgame than talking in front of the cameras when you get up there in front of that many people. I had an idea of what I wanted to say. You get up there and all of a sudden it becomes a little more blurry. I hope I got out what I wanted to say. Pretty cool experience."
On the call afterward, he talked about his family just like he did in his speech. He talked about the support they gave him during last year's tough season.
"Nothing changes," he said. "They were there for you when things were great and they were there for you just the same when things are awful. You realize that's more important than playing hockey."
On not winning the Vezina: "Not to sound negative, I wasn't exactly ready to spring out of my seat when they were doing the Vezina with the year that Carey [Price] had. I think it was pretty much a lock that he would be taking that one."
Price also won the Hart.
On Thursday, Dubnyk and any pending free agent next Wednesday can begin talking to other teams about a contract. Dubnyk said that's not a deadline in his mind and his sole focus is trying to get a deal done with the Wild.
GM Chuck Fletcher is supposed to meet with his agent, Mike Liut. Fletcher has also several other agent meetings the next few days.
Dubnyk reiterated what he said to be in Wednesday's paper: "We're going to do everything we can to get something done. I don't know if that'll take a day or two days or three days, I don't know. But I'm confident and definitely trust we'll get something done."
Asked though if he thinks this can easily be hashed out, Dubnyk said, "I think there's room to get it done. Nothing changed. We both want to make it happen. I haven't thought about anything from the end of the year on other than being in Minnesota and I'm going to continue to think that way ... unless I have reason to think another way. But I do believe that we're going to be able to get it done."
Read Thursday's Dubnyk story because I get into the Wild's pending unrestricted free agents like Kyle Brodziak, Chris Stewart, Jordan Leopold, Ryan Carter and Nate Prosser.
Also, Fletcher has meetings scheduled the next two days with the agents of unsigned Mikael Granlund, Erik Haula and Christian Folin and injured Niklas Backstrom, whom the Wild would like to find a way to unload this summer.
Wild players receiving award votes: Zach Parise finished 17th for the Selke Trophy and tied for 18th for the Hart Trophy, Ryan Suter finished ninth for the Norris Trophy, Jason Pominville finished sixth for the Lady Byng Trophy and Jonas Brodin tied for 18th for the Norris and was 13th for the Lady Byng. Mike Yeo was 12th for the Jack Adams Award and Fletcher was eighth for GM of the Year.
Leopold's daughter, Jordyn, won the NHL's Social Media Moment of the Year. It stemmed from Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen tweeting, "It isn't always just about business," accompanied by her letter asking for him to trade dad to his hometown Wild.
Talk to you Thursday.